The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-07-01
"Given to Hospitality"
BY CATHARINE LENT STEVENSON.


my wife, sir. She's alOGyS ready tc
receive visitors. l made it my one
rule when we began housekeeping
Said l, Helen, we may not have the
finest kind of cookery on our table, but
there's one thing must always be there,
knife and fork for the stranger that
is within our gates" y We've follow,
ed that rule almost to the letter fol
almost fifteen years, and it's wonder
full how the Lord honors the cheerful
giver; there pretty generally is a stran-
ger within our gates, while our neigh
bors"-
should think there might be, inter-
rupted Deacon Grants companion,
with an amused smile, If you hail
him on the road mile from your
home, and force him back with YOU in
spite of himself; on wash-day, too, :"
he continued, apologetically, as, emerg-
ing from the stable door, he saw tall,
slender woman coming around the
corner of the house with basket piled
high with newly washed-clotheS.
"Wash-day? Well what if it Isl?
Folks eat on wash day, don't they?
Helen" as thay approached the
clotheS-line-'this is DR.. BrowneU, the
young man who is going to put up his
sign in our village. was lucky enough
to meet him on the road just now, so |
brought him back to dinner. Near
ready, amt it?''
Very nearly, James. How do you
do, sir? The clothes-yard is hardly
the place for formal introduction, but
all times and seasons are alike to my
husband" and the smile which lighted
Mrs. Grants once beautiful, but now
sadly worn face had IN it tinge of
bitterness which did not escape the doc
tor S watchful eye.
Poor woman?' he murmured to
himself; Its just as her aunt told me;
she's a daily iInmolation on the alter of
hospitality
OF course they are," said the dea-
con, all unconcious of this by-play of
thought; where's the difference in
times and seasons? If a mans ready
to receive his friends on Thursday af-
ternoon, why should't he be ready on
Monday morning? A friends friend,
and days day. | don't see that it
matters much what name you call it,
But come into the house, doctor, you'll
melt in this broiling sum-" and the dea-
con lead the way, through the vine
covered porch, into the cool sitting
room. ..
The doctor sank into the easy chair
profered him with a sigh of relief. 1t
was such change from the glare out
side--this dainty room, with its screened
windows, its floor covered with cool
mating, its vases of delicate flowers.
Isn't it deliciouS?" he exclaimed.
Yes, said the deacon, ''this is
what call comfort. Excuse me if I take
OF my coat After not days work,
to come in and stretch yourself on this
lounge for an hour is something worth
while, and | enjoy it twice as much if
there is somebody with me.
An opening door just then let in the
rattle OF dishes from an adjoining
room, and the doctor found himself
wondering how many hours day Mr..
Grant took to enjoy the coolness; but
he only said, +" you are a very hos
pitable man, Deacon Grant"
''Wellp' said the deacon, with the
air of man who, though not uncon-
cious Of his merits. could vet be hum
BILE In that consciousness !; I've al
ways considered hospitality one OF the
cardinal virtues --in fact, | may say The
cardinal one. What greater condem-
nation could the Master pronounce
than Twas stranger, and We took me
not in ?' I've tried to live with that
passage before me for the past fifteen
years, and can assure you that no
one was ever turned empty from ma
door. Why, I've had dozens Of poor
fellows stop here months at time when
they have been looking for work. /
dom say il boastingly, but you can ask
Deacon Grants reputation anywhere
about here, and youth be told that I'm
given to hospitaliEY."
You must be peculiarly fortunate in
securing servants, said the young
doctor quietly, or else the strain Of So
much generosity would come very
heavily upon your wife. =
well, no, said the deacon uneasily,
its pretty hard work to get good
help, that's fact, especially as / can't
afford to pay fancy prices. We have
only young girl this summer, but an
old aunt Of mine IS living here, who is
as spry ais cricket and helps about
good deal. Their we have no children,
and woman work Is nothing ANYHOW 4
II think your wife looks far from
well, and as if she were working much
beyond her strength. said the doctor
m bis most assured professional tone.
Who? HelenP Oh, no, she always
looks that way, and she's perfectly
well. ] never heard her coraplain ID
the fifteen years we've lived together
BUT the thOughf evidontlv frnuhlad